Utah Lake State Park Guide

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Introduction

Provo, Utah’s second largest metropolitan area, is located in the Utah Valley along the eastern side of the Wasatch Front. Provo is home to many landmarks and attractions including Utah’s largest freshwater lake, Lake Utah. Lake Utah is a 148 square mile body of water that provides recreation for much of Provo. Along Lake Utah sits Utah Lake State Park, a small facility full of big water sport activities and beautiful lakefront camping.

Brigham Young University and the LDS Missionary Training Center, both owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, bring visitors from all over the world to the city of Provo each year. Although the buildings and facilities around the city attract visitors, the terrain and territory surrounding the city bring the visitors back for more than just schooling and training. The recreation around the city is what makes Provo an unforgettable place to see time and again.

Utah Lake State Park is located 46 miles south of Salt Lake City. The park, which sits five miles from Provo’s city center, is a camping and water recreation hotspot. The park is open year-round for day use and seasonally for camping. People visiting the park can venture out for day trips and see some of the area’s most beautiful places. Bridal Veil Falls, Mount Timpanogos, and the Sundance Resort are all located within a 17 mile drive from the park, and are all must-see locations.

Transportation in Utah Lake State Park

Driving

Utah Lake State Park is located 46 miles south of Salt Lake City. Travel south on Interstate 15 to Provo Center Street and take exit 265B. Then travel west on Center Street for two and a half miles to the park.

Visitors must pay a day use fee when entering the park. The price is an additional charge added to the cost of recreation.

Once entering the park, proceed to the campground, located on the east side of the lake.

Parking

Public Transport

Campgrounds and parking in Utah Lake State Park

Campsites in Utah Lake State Park

Reservations camping

Springville / Provo KOA

Conveniently located minutes off of I-15, in the shadows of the stunning Wasatch Mountains, Springfield/Provo KOA is located just south of Provo, Utah. The campground provides a large clubhouse with a full kitchen, heat and AC, as well as a big-screen TV (great for groups and family reunions!). Enjoy time around the seasonal pool, fire pit or the game room. Enjoy special on-site events, such as car shows and parties. The campground’s close proximity to area restaurants, a water park and attractions in Salt Lake City make the Springfield/Provo KOA a great base camp for Utah adventures. Enjoy nature? There’s plenty of wilderness nearby for hiking, mountain biking, birding and more. Bring your skis and snowshoes, or even a snowmobile, to enjoy Utah’s legendary powder snow. Pull-through sites and full hookups are available for rigs up to 70 feet. Clean restrooms and hot showers provide the comforts and conveniences of home. There’s even an off-leash park for your pooch!

Lakeshore Campground

The Lakeshore Campground is a seasonally-operating campground that sits alongside Utah Lake. The campground is pet-friendly and provides restrooms, showers, and a dump station for campground guests. The standard partial hookup spaces are both pull through and back in, and all of the spaces have water and 20/30 amp electricity hookups. Campers will want to sit outside and enjoy the scenery and make use of the covered picnic table, firepit, and grill at each space. The spaces accommodate RVs and trailers up to 50 feet in length, but the larger spaces are limited. The max advertised space is 42 feet, so when making reservations, campers will need to check individual campsite details to ensure your RV will fit comfortably in the space allowed. Quiet hours are 10 pm to 7 am. Please silence your generators during this time.

First-come first-served

Alternate camping

Seasonal activities in Utah Lake State Park

In-Season

Lessons

If you’ve ever wanted to try water skiing or wake boarding, but you are afraid to try on your own, visit the inner marina and talk to the people at Utah Paddle Boards about learning a new watersport. While you find out more information about lessons, spend time in the gear shop and see if there is any beachwear for sale that you might need for your upcoming adventure on the lake. Pricing and availability are subject to change, so check with the marina for the most up to date information.

Boat Rentals

Utah Lake is the perfect place to stay and play. If you want to try out different water activities or find a sport that appeals to everyone’s interests, then visit the marina and see how much fun you can have on the water. Utah Lake State Park partners with a local rental shop and offers personal watercraft rentals. Rent stand up paddleboards, kayaks, canoes and paddle boats, or if you’d like a faster watercraft, rent a wave runner or a jet boat. Patrons have a variety of rental options. Boat rentals operate out of the inner marina.

Swimming

If you love the idea of spending your time on the water sitting lakeside, then come to the swim beach to dip your toes in the sand and cool off in the lake. The swim beach is located in one of the park’s two marinas, the outer marina. The outer marina has a sandy swim beach and allows people to swim and launch smaller personal watercraft like kayaks and paddle boards from the beach. You don’t need any equipment to swim, so bring your towel, relax, and swim when you are ready to cool down. The whole family can enjoy a day of fun at the swim beach!

Off-Season

Day Use Areas

The park has many outdoor day use areas. Visitors can use the public picnic areas on a first come, first serve basis. If you are planning a larger group function and want to ensure that you have a space to host your event, reserve one of the two larger picnic pavilions. The pavilion areas are fee-based and reservable. Rent the Old Ice Rink Pavilion and have access to water, two serving tables, two large grills, and 14 tables. Rent the Center Lawn Group Pavilion and have access to a serving table, a large grill, six tables, and a sand volleyball court. All rental fees are an additional charge on top of the daily entrance or camping fees.

Fishing

Visit Utah Lake, one of Utah’s Urban Fisheries. Access one of the park’s many boat ramps and make a day of floating and fishing. Bring your fishing tackle and valid fishing license and fish for walleye, channel catfish, largemouth bass, white bass, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, yellow perch, or common carp. Visitors may bring a boat or rent a boat from the marina. Please be aware that personal watercraft must pass inspection and adhere to certain boating rules to stop the spread of invasive species.

Disc Golf

If you own a frisbee and you love disc golf, then this nine-hole mostly flat and lightly wooded course is a great place to get outside and play. The course runs throughout the picnic and nature trail area, conveniently located next to some restrooms. Play holes one to four on the grass strip, and then cross the footbridge for holes five—seven. After playing hole seven, pass back over the bridge and complete your game on the grass for holes eight—nine. The course has natural tees and DISCatcher holes and is rated a par of 27. Visitors must pay a fee to access the course.